Shloka 6

अध्याय ३९: विदुरेण धृतराष्ट्राय नीत्युपदेशः

Timely Counsel, Association, and Kin-Duty

Devanagari script

सुखार्थिन: कुतो विद्या नास्ति विद्यार्थिन: सुखम्‌ । सुखार्थी वा त्यजेद्‌ विद्यां विद्यार्थी वा त्यजेत्‌ू सुखम्‌

Transliteration

sukhārthinaḥ kuto vidyā nāsti vidyārthinaḥ sukham | sukhārthī vā tyajed vidyāṃ vidyārthī vā tyajet sukham ||

Translation

Vidura sprach: „Wie sollte einer, der Bequemlichkeit sucht, wahre Erkenntnis erlangen? Für den, der Erkenntnis sucht, ist Bequemlichkeit nicht zu finden. Darum muss entweder der Bequemlichkeitssucher das Lernen aufgeben, oder der Wissensucher die Bequemlichkeit.“

Word by Word

सुखार्थिनःthose who seek pleasure

कुतःwhence/how (can there be)

विद्याknowledge/learning

नnot

अस्तिis/exists

विद्यार्थिनःof a student/learner

सुखम्pleasure/happiness

सुखार्थीone who seeks pleasure

वाor

त्यजेत्should abandon

विद्याम्knowledge (as object)

विद्यार्थीa student/learner

वाor

त्यजेत्should abandon

सुखम्pleasure (as object)

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vidura teaches that serious learning demands sacrifice: the pursuit of comfort and the pursuit of knowledge pull in opposite directions. One must choose disciplined effort over ease to attain vidyā.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled setting, Vidura offers nīti (practical-ethical instruction) to guide conduct. This verse frames a moral choice relevant to leadership and personal formation: whether to prioritize immediate comfort or the demanding path of wisdom.